ENHANCING the care that brings comfort and dignity during the final days of the terminally ill is the aim of a new Observer readers' campaign to help St Luke's Hospice.

The highly regarded and invaluable hospice in Kenton marks its 25th anniversary with a push to raise £250,000 in one year, so the charity can help more families.

We are calling on our readers to join the Observer's Showing We Care campaign to raise £25,000 towards the total target.

Thousands of people a year from Harrow and Brent have contact with the hospice in Kenton Grange, which provides tailored palliative care free of charge. To demonstrate the strength of community support and gratitude for the tireless work of hundreds of carers, nurses and volunteers past, present and future, we urge you to get behind our campaign.

Mike Redhouse, chairman-elect of trustees of the hospice, said: "The 25th anniversary is an opportunity to remind people that we are here and that we help people in their final days.

"Secondly, it's an opportunity to remind people that we do need money.

"We don't get any money on a national basis and we need to raise £3million every year. This is a chance to raise a bit more so that we can improve our services."

The 66-year-old said: "Nobody gets turned away, but we would like to be able to see more patients than we do.

"When people think of the hospice, they think about Kenton Grange, but we are increasingly providing our Hospice At Home service.

"For £250,000 we can provide 10 more outreach nurses or extend our day-care centre for another day.

"Almost everybody knows someone who has had need to use the hospice and every single pound will go directly on helping the people of Harrow and Brent."

Readers can donate by completing the coupon on page 7, by visiting www.stlukes-hospice.org or using collection boxes at any of St Luke's Hospice charity shops.